PETALING JAYA: Unitar International University and Amazon Web Services have collaborated to build an inclusive, diverse global pipeline of new cloud talent by engaging unemployed or underemployed individuals to a free 12-week training programme cloud computing skills development and job training through the AWS re/Start programme in Malaysia.
During a virtual briefing event for the launch of the first AWS re/Start programme in Asean, Unitar International University chief executive officer, Puvan Balachandran said that as a university that has always been looking for ways to create access to education, the AWS re/Start programme is one example of Unitar's effort to help more learners gain job-specific skills, connect with employers, and widen their career potentials.
"Unitar's vision is to create access to education and accelerate innovative solutions for a sustainable future. This is aligned with the programme's mission to help unemployed and underemployed individuals who might not otherwise have access to technical education to develop the skills they need.
The first AWS re/Start cohort in Malaysia started the programme in December 2021 and will be graduating in March 2022.
Throughout the 12-week programme, students will complete real-world-scenario-based exercises, hands-on labs, and coursework, to build Linux, Python, networking, security, and relational database skills.
Also at the briefing was Head of AWS Training and Certification, APJ, Andrew Sklar who added that the programme establishes a win-win-win scenario for individuals in need, communities in which they reside, and AWS' customers as well as partners.
"The programme focuses on connecting unemployed and underemployed individuals to in-demand cloud opportunities, lifting people and economies within that community, and providing AWS customers and partners with a means to build a loyal and diverse workforce."
In addition, the programme also covers practical career skills, such as interviewing and resume writing, and also covers the cost for learners to take the AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner exam so they can validate their cloud skills with an industry-recognised credential.
Ultimately, AWS re/Start helps individuals prepare for roles in operations, site reliability, and infrastructure support.
The first cohort of AWS re/Start students includes a wide range of talents between the ages of 20-56, from a variety of backgrounds including engineering, banking, education and learning, as well as general administration.
Working closely alongside Unitar on this upskilling initiative is the Social Security Organisation (Socso), a government agency under Malaysia's Ministry of Human Resources. Socso will connect learners with potential employers in search of candidates with a cloud computing skill set.
As of Aug 9, 2021, Malaysia's unemployment rate stood at 4.8 per cent with 768,700 unemployed individuals and according to Socso chief executive officer Datuk Seri Dr Mohammed Azman Aziz Mohammed, based on real-time vacancies posted on MYFutureJobs, more than 67 per cent of available job opportunities posted by employers require digital and computing skills.
"As such, Perkeso (Socso) welcomes the initiative by AWS and Unitar to enhance the employability of unemployed jobseekers with cloud computing skills and reduce structural mismatches between labour supply and labour demand in Malaysia. The timely initiative complements Perkeso's effort to reduce unemployment and stabilise the labour market during the Covid-19 pandemic."
According to 451 Research, 85 per cent of organisations reported deficits in cloud expertise. Additionally, a research by AlphaBeta shows that the need for advanced cloud computing and data skills in Apac is expected to triple by 2025 – the greatest increase forecasted across all digital skill competencies.
The AWS re/Start programme is part of Amazon's upskilling commitment to help 29 million people globally grow their cloud computing skills for free by 2025. AWS re/Start has a presence in 95 cities in 38 countries, and the collaboration with Unitar expands the global presence to Asean, specifically to Malaysia.
To find out more about the AWS re/Start programme at Unitar, visit https://www.unitar.my/aws-re-start/
To connect with AWS re/Start graduates or learn more, fill out an employer interest form or visit https://aws.amazon.com/training/restart/